Genesis 6:17-21

This is the first occurrence of the important word "covenant" (Heb. berith) in the Old Testament (Genesis 6:18). There were two basic kinds of covenants in the ancient Near East. [Note: G. Herbert Livingston, The Pentateuch in Its Cultural Environment, pp. 153-154.]

1. The parity covenant was one that equals made. Examples: Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 21:22-32), Isaac and Abimelech (Genesis 26:26-33), and Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:44-54).

2. The suzerainty covenant was one that a superior (e.g., a king) made with an inferior (e.g., a vassal). Examples: the Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9:1-17), the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 15:18-21), the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19 -Numbers 10), et al.

"The Noahic covenant is closer to the royal grant known from the ancient Near East where a deity bestows a benefit or gift upon a king. It has its closest parallels to the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants (Genesis 15; Genesis 17; 2 Samuel 7), which are promissory charters made by God with the individuals and their offspring, characteristically forever. Unlike the Mosaic covenant, in the royal grant form of covenant God alone is under compulsion by oath to uphold his promise to the favored party." [Note: Mathews, p. 368.]